A SHAW pub's kitchen is in the safest of hands - even flambés aren't a hazard when your two chefs are retired firefighters.

It's more a case of 'out of the fire and into the frying pan' for Ray Gavin and John Henry, of The Park Inn, who were firemen for a combined 55 years before embarking on culinary careers.

Now the pub, owned by Glenys and Gerry Norton, is gaining a great reputation from local food lovers. Especially since Ray, 63, from Liverpool, joined as head chef.

Glenys said: "When I saw ex-fireman on Ray's CV I though 'phwoar', expecting someone tall, dark and handsome. Instead I got the Pillsbury Doughboy. Joking aside, Ray is an absolute sweetheart. He is as passionate about food as he was about firefighting and the customers love him and his food."

Ray worked for the Merseyside Fire Service for 25 years until he had to retired through injury. He was in the first crew that arrived on the scene of the infamous Toxteth Riots of 1981.

"I grew up in Toxteth and learned a lot about ethnic cooking from the people there," he said. "After I retired I travelled a lot and experienced a good deal of Asian and European cooking."

Ray has worked in hotel restaurants all over the region, gaining experience in every style of catering. He has brought with him an exotic menu including camel, crocodile and ostrich dishes.

Both Ray's sons are chefs and his grand-daughter is a restaurant manager.

"I am used to singing in a band and what I love is the applause and then afterwards you get paid for it," he added. "It's the same with cooking. It's all about the compliments."

In the case of new assistant chef John, his change in career is not all that surprising.

John left Greater Manchester Fire Service after 30 years, many of which were spent at Oldham and Chadderton stations.

The 52-year-old from Denshaw said: "A lot of firemen are good cooks. In the past it was an important job while you were on shift. You would cook for the whole crew, making curries, stews and casseroles; things that could be reheated if you were called out to a fire during the meal."

Towards the end of John's service he studied cooking and hospitality at college and now plans to study to become a pastry chef.

Glenys said: "They both won the Queen's Fire Service Medal and will be handy to have around if there is a crisis. John and Ray hit it off straight away and had so much to talk about. They got on like a house on fire - if you'll excuse the pun."